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Cord Tissue Processing Key Role in Regenerative Medicine

Umbilical cord blood and cord tissue are rich in hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), respectively. Both types of stem cells play key roles in maintaining our health and each works in its own unique way.

Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to all the other blood cells and are the foundation of our body’s immune system. Cord blood transplants are considered standard therapies for over 80 diseases including cancers, blood disorders, metabolic disorders and immune system disorders.

Distinct from hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells have many unique functions, including the ability to inhibit inflammation following tissue damage, to secrete growth factors that aid in tissue repair and to differentiate into many cell types including neural cells, bone cells, fat cells and muscle cells in addition to cartilage and connective tissues. As research continues to advance and clinical trials move towards therapeutic use, mesenchymal stem cells’ future use will depend on how they are processed.

Processing cord tissue for maximum potential

Stem cells are often extracted from the tissue through enzymatic digestion before cryopreservation. In many cases, this type of processing will leave the cord tissue stem cells ineligible for use. This method is mainly still practiced because of the lack of appropriate FDA-approved protocols for cord tissue cryopreservation.

The preferred method (and the only one which Cryo-Cell offers) begins with the collection of approximately six inches of the umbilical cord tissue at time of birth by the OBGYN—after the cord is cut, cord blood collected, and placenta delivered. Cryopreserving the a section of cord provides the most flexibility for the future use of cord tissue stem cells because it cryopreserves the cord tissue stem cells in their natural environment and leaves the extraction to before the expected use.

Cord tissue in regenerative medicine

The potential uses of cord tissue stem cells for regenerative applications, spinal therapies and the treatment of debilitating diseases are steadily increasing. Stem cells derived from cord tissue are currently being investigated in clinical trials to treat diseases such as:

ALS

Alzheimer’s

Liver Fibrosis

Lung Cancer

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Parkinson’s Disease

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sport Injuries

Stroke

Traumatic Optic Neuropathy

Type 1 Diabetes

Conclusion

Parents want to know they can rely on the stem cells they have stored if they are ever needed. Today, no standard practice has been established for umbilical cord tissue processing. Because of the lack of standardization, the methods explored above may ultimately yield cord tissues stem cells that are unusable for future clinical use. Parents may in fact be paying year after year for stem cells that they will not be able to use.

The cryopreservation processing method that has been independently acknowledged as the best in the industry, according to scientific data published in the December 2015 issue of Placenta, is the only one Cryo-Cell offers:

Cryo-Cell International

The World’s First Cord Blood Bank

Founded in 1989, Cryo-Cell is the world's first family cord blood bank. More than 500,000 parents from 87 countries have entrusted Cryo-Cell (and our affiliates) with their baby’s cord blood collections. Since inception, 100% of our clients’ collections have been successfully viable upon thaw, a statement that no other cord blood bank has made. Cryo-Cell's services include umbilical cord blood and cord tissue banking. Cryo-Cell's industry leading, state-of-the-art laboratory and storage facility are situated adjacent to its corporate headquarters. This proximity allows our executives to directly oversee the daily operation of the most secured, efficient, and technically advanced facility.